Senators have refuted claims of receiving N200 million worth of palliatives from Bola Tinubu, addressing allegations suggesting each member has begun taking stock of Federal Government aid for their constituents during the yuletide season.
As reported by Premium Times, Olusegun Dada, the special assistant on social media to President Bola Tinubu, confirmed the distribution of N200 million worth of palliative items to senators and N100 million worth to House of Representatives members after initial logistics delay.
“After initial logistics delay, I can now confirm that Senators and members of the House of Representatives have started taking stock of the Federal Government’s palliative items for their constituents as part of efforts to ease life for all Nigerians. Each HoR member received items worth N100m while Senatorial constituencies got palliative items worth N200m” the presidential aide said.
However, Yemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, stressed he had not received any government palliatives and funded the distributed food items and money for constituents from his own resources.
“Was it the Minister that said that or the President because as for me I have not seen anything,” he said.
Continuing, Adaramodu stated, “If they had handed it over to us, you would see trailers loaded with food items across all constituencies in Ekiti State, Ondo and Oyo states and other states. Our people will even be happy to get the items from the federal government.
“As for me, Yemi Adaramodu, I have not received any food items from the federal government. The food I distributed to my people across my constituency was funded personally by me and that has been my tradition every year even while I was the Chief of Staff, before I got elected to the House of Representatives.
“I have read all these things on the internet too, many people are just saying a lot of things but for me, Yemi Adaramodu, I have not received any food items from the federal government, maybe when they give us, I will tell you.”
Similarly, Ezrel Tabiowo, media adviser to the immediate past Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, expressed unawareness of whether his principal received the items, mentioning that many outreaches were privately funded by the former Senate President’s foundation.
Mr. Tabiowo also emphasized the implausibility of N200 million covering the needs of a constituency, casting doubt on the viability of the reported amount for meaningful palliative distribution.
“N200 million cannot even buy bags of grains that will be sufficient for one constituenency in Nigeria. Do the calculations, I doubt if that money will buy bags of grains that will sustain a constituency, it is not possible.
“N200 million can only buy 6000 bags of rice at an average price of N30,000 per bag. To get the number of bags each lawmaker can get as palliative, divide 6000 bags by 470, that is about 12 bags each. The claim makes no sense as you can see” Mr Tabiowo said.
An aide to the Senator representing Ogun East verified that the Senator had not received any palliatives from the government and personally funded the distributed items.
The Presidential Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, remained silent on the matter despite attempts to reach out for comments.
